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Population in China compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 38.2 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 17.4% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

China vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Saudi Arabia
2100 633,320,628 74,230,118
2099 643,959,697 73,760,045
2098 654,691,595 73,287,526
2097 665,517,335 72,813,125
2096 676,438,150 72,336,039
2095 687,457,915 71,858,206
2094 698,589,897 71,379,928
2093 709,852,629 70,900,460
2092 721,251,520 70,420,464
2091 732,791,748 69,940,749
2090 744,501,355 69,462,214
2089 756,404,299 68,985,976
2088 768,478,316 68,510,277
2087 780,707,622 68,035,545
2086 793,081,006 67,562,521
2085 805,608,315 67,091,615
2084 818,268,277 66,621,667
2083 830,972,107 66,152,653
2082 843,721,746 65,684,321
2081 856,534,631 65,216,102
2080 869,351,919 64,749,128
2079 882,146,959 64,282,393
2078 894,889,246 63,815,918
2077 907,592,919 63,348,712
2076 920,280,380 62,880,120
2075 932,956,157 62,409,793
2074 945,631,173 61,937,628
2073 958,352,980 61,462,662
2072 971,115,895 60,984,202
2071 983,938,054 60,502,791
2070 996,853,418 60,018,216
2069 1,009,905,851 59,529,456
2068 1,023,081,790 59,036,086
2067 1,036,420,010 58,539,487
2066 1,049,887,382 58,039,687
2065 1,063,477,623 57,537,106
2064 1,077,206,695 57,032,172
2063 1,090,982,303 56,524,331
2062 1,104,833,556 56,014,549
2061 1,118,682,849 55,501,467
2060 1,132,504,136 54,986,901
2059 1,146,199,736 54,469,809
2058 1,159,714,746 53,950,469
2057 1,172,963,523 53,430,639
2056 1,185,938,083 52,909,061
2055 1,198,550,408 52,386,571
2054 1,210,749,681 51,862,312
2053 1,222,500,569 51,336,335
2052 1,233,808,926 50,809,100
2051 1,244,584,333 50,280,719
2050 1,254,824,040 49,751,739
2049 1,264,598,914 49,221,828
2048 1,273,885,471 48,690,143
2047 1,282,701,271 48,157,605
2046 1,291,133,690 47,623,246
2045 1,299,154,327 47,087,215
2044 1,306,805,350 46,550,306
2043 1,314,176,710 46,013,232
2042 1,321,319,298 45,475,200
2041 1,328,219,755 44,936,131
2040 1,334,857,481 44,396,093
2039 1,341,265,381 43,856,006
2038 1,347,407,165 43,314,707
2037 1,353,377,505 42,773,375
2036 1,359,133,287 42,231,639
2035 1,364,651,508 41,690,245
2034 1,369,940,557 41,150,029
2033 1,375,003,005 40,611,021
2032 1,379,784,204 40,073,144
2031 1,384,301,522 39,535,357
2030 1,388,520,533 38,998,581
2029 1,392,490,007 38,417,447
2028 1,396,163,778 37,810,902
2027 1,399,515,824 37,189,969
2026 1,402,578,808 36,566,201
2025 1,405,826,385 35,932,673
2024 1,408,975,000 35,300,280
2023 1,410,710,000 33,702,731
2022 1,412,175,000 32,175,224
2021 1,412,360,000 30,784,383
2020 1,411,100,000 31,552,510
2019 1,407,745,000 30,063,799
2018 1,402,760,000 30,196,281
2017 1,396,215,000 30,977,355
2016 1,387,790,000 30,954,198
2015 1,379,860,000 29,816,382
2014 1,371,860,000 28,309,273
2013 1,363,240,000 27,624,004
2012 1,354,190,000 26,168,861
2011 1,345,035,000 25,091,867
2010 1,337,705,000 23,978,487
2009 1,331,260,000 24,217,654
2008 1,324,655,000 23,287,877
2007 1,317,885,000 22,368,313
2006 1,311,020,000 21,459,144
2005 1,303,720,000 20,559,890
2004 1,296,075,000 19,669,480
2003 1,288,400,000 18,786,767
2002 1,280,400,000 17,910,910
2001 1,271,850,000 17,041,397
2000 1,262,645,000 16,177,722
1999 1,252,735,000 15,472,075
1998 1,241,935,000 14,922,185
1997 1,230,075,000 14,374,943
1996 1,217,550,000 13,831,009
1995 1,204,855,000 13,289,245
1994 1,191,835,000 12,750,040
1993 1,178,440,000 12,215,862
1992 1,164,970,000 11,686,676
1991 1,150,780,000 11,160,744
1990 1,135,185,000 10,640,691
1989 1,118,650,000 10,128,394
1988 1,101,630,000 9,629,165
1987 1,084,035,000 9,130,194
1986 1,066,790,000 8,628,639
1985 1,051,040,000 8,151,779
1984 1,036,825,000 7,697,307
1983 1,023,310,000 7,252,941
1982 1,008,630,000 6,824,486
1981 993,885,000 6,420,551
1980 981,235,000 6,047,997
1979 969,005,000 5,703,698
1978 956,165,000 5,381,902
1977 943,455,000 5,083,048
1976 930,685,000 4,807,933
1975 916,395,000 4,556,287
1974 900,350,000 4,323,632
1973 881,940,000 4,106,344
1972 862,030,000 3,905,722
1971 841,105,000 3,724,031
1970 818,315,000 3,562,470
1969 796,025,000 3,417,114
1968 774,510,000 3,282,711
1967 754,550,000 3,157,242
1966 735,400,000 3,039,887
1965 715,185,000 2,928,771
1964 698,355,000 2,821,968
1963 682,335,000 2,719,341
1962 665,770,000 2,620,910
1961 660,330,000 2,526,347
1960 667,070,000 2,435,403

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Saudi Arabia
2100 -1.65% 0.64%
2099 -1.64% 0.64%
2098 -1.63% 0.65%
2097 -1.61% 0.66%
2096 -1.6% 0.66%
2095 -1.59% 0.67%
2094 -1.59% 0.68%
2093 -1.58% 0.68%
2092 -1.57% 0.69%
2091 -1.57% 0.69%
2090 -1.57% 0.69%
2089 -1.57% 0.69%
2088 -1.57% 0.7%
2087 -1.56% 0.7%
2086 -1.56% 0.7%
2085 -1.55% 0.71%
2084 -1.53% 0.71%
2083 -1.51% 0.71%
2082 -1.5% 0.72%
2081 -1.47% 0.72%
2080 -1.45% 0.73%
2079 -1.42% 0.73%
2078 -1.4% 0.74%
2077 -1.38% 0.75%
2076 -1.36% 0.75%
2075 -1.34% 0.76%
2074 -1.33% 0.77%
2073 -1.31% 0.78%
2072 -1.3% 0.8%
2071 -1.3% 0.81%
2070 -1.29% 0.82%
2069 -1.29% 0.84%
2068 -1.29% 0.85%
2067 -1.28% 0.86%
2066 -1.28% 0.87%
2065 -1.27% 0.89%
2064 -1.26% 0.9%
2063 -1.25% 0.91%
2062 -1.24% 0.92%
2061 -1.22% 0.94%
2060 -1.19% 0.95%
2059 -1.17% 0.96%
2058 -1.13% 0.97%
2057 -1.09% 0.99%
2056 -1.05% 1%
2055 -1.01% 1.01%
2054 -0.96% 1.02%
2053 -0.92% 1.04%
2052 -0.87% 1.05%
2051 -0.82% 1.06%
2050 -0.77% 1.08%
2049 -0.73% 1.09%
2048 -0.69% 1.11%
2047 -0.65% 1.12%
2046 -0.62% 1.14%
2045 -0.59% 1.15%
2044 -0.56% 1.17%
2043 -0.54% 1.18%
2042 -0.52% 1.2%
2041 -0.5% 1.22%
2040 -0.48% 1.23%
2039 -0.46% 1.25%
2038 -0.44% 1.27%
2037 -0.42% 1.28%
2036 -0.4% 1.3%
2035 -0.39% 1.31%
2034 -0.37% 1.33%
2033 -0.35% 1.34%
2032 -0.33% 1.36%
2031 -0.3% 1.38%
2030 -0.29% 1.51%
2029 -0.26% 1.6%
2028 -0.24% 1.67%
2027 -0.22% 1.71%
2026 -0.23% 1.76%
2025 -0.22% 1.79%
2024 -0.12% 4.74%
2023 -0.1% 4.75%
2022 -0.01% 4.52%
2021 0.09% -2.43%
2020 0.24% 4.95%
2019 0.36% -0.44%
2018 0.47% -2.52%
2017 0.61% 0.07%
2016 0.57% 3.82%
2015 0.58% 5.32%
2014 0.63% 2.48%
2013 0.67% 5.56%
2012 0.68% 4.29%
2011 0.55% 4.64%
2010 0.48% -0.99%
2009 0.5% 3.99%
2008 0.51% 4.11%
2007 0.52% 4.24%
2006 0.56% 4.37%
2005 0.59% 4.53%
2004 0.6% 4.7%
2003 0.62% 4.89%
2002 0.67% 5.1%
2001 0.73% 5.34%
2000 0.79% 4.56%
1999 0.87% 3.69%
1998 0.96% 3.81%
1997 1.03% 3.93%
1996 1.05% 4.08%
1995 1.09% 4.23%
1994 1.14% 4.37%
1993 1.16% 4.53%
1992 1.23% 4.71%
1991 1.37% 4.89%
1990 1.48% 5.06%
1989 1.54% 5.18%
1988 1.62% 5.47%
1987 1.62% 5.81%
1986 1.5% 5.85%
1985 1.37% 5.9%
1984 1.32% 6.13%
1983 1.46% 6.28%
1982 1.48% 6.29%
1981 1.29% 6.16%
1980 1.26% 6.04%
1979 1.34% 5.98%
1978 1.35% 5.88%
1977 1.37% 5.72%
1976 1.56% 5.52%
1975 1.78% 5.38%
1974 2.09% 5.29%
1973 2.31% 5.14%
1972 2.49% 4.88%
1971 2.78% 4.54%
1970 2.8% 4.25%
1969 2.78% 4.09%
1968 2.65% 3.97%
1967 2.6% 3.86%
1966 2.83% 3.79%
1965 2.41% 3.78%
1964 2.35% 3.77%
1963 2.49% 3.76%
1962 0.82% 3.74%
1961 -1.01% 3.73%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

China Saudi Arabia
Current population
1402578808
36734925
Population rank 2/197 44/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.44%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +4,377
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 4/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +119,738
Net migration rank 189/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 119,738
2024 - -318,992 - 122,170
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 474,366 325,691
2022 -847,305 -293,846 406,920 977,072
2021 480,203 -379,749 409,032 -106,287
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 447,036 -74,725
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 474,407 191,582
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 528,767 -988,751
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 546,751 -920,812
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 537,829 -26,997
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 511,023 465,292
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 493,431 469,144
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 475,299 485,794
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 465,649 479,206
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 443,675 491,253
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 418,641 504,955
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 438,557 496,229
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 433,457 491,337
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 425,199 489,136
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 399,333 504,661
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 375,938 518,565
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 362,843 523,472
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 364,520 514,606
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 372,099 500,508
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 382,153 484,252
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 392,407 468,515
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 390,112 160,263
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 389,499 159,898
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 385,033 160,066
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 382,248 160,532
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 380,231 160,512
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 377,351 160,306
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 372,621 158,074
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 366,763 160,908
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 361,329 162,857
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 355,495 160,416
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 349,399 159,273
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 342,865 146,918
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 333,088 175,075
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 322,340 172,606
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 310,558 148,208
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 296,615 153,562
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 280,616 157,930
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 264,831 153,528
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 249,156 140,355
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 234,372 121,220
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 220,186 112,826
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 205,331 105,263
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 191,103 96,015
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 178,024 85,083
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 166,223 73,960
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 155,478 69,653
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 145,450 63,995
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 136,360 55,439
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 127,600 43,989
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 120,440 31,097
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 113,859 25,312
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 108,281 21,366
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 103,343 17,947
1966 19,282,187 4,165 98,361 15,054
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 93,820 15,000
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 89,776 15,000
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 85,480 15,000
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 81,393 15,000
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 77,743 15,000
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 74,143 15,000

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people). In Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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